Kisss Ebb & Flow Mat

invented by David Hinton and Atholl Murray

( Winner )

Kisss Ebb & Flow Mat

About the Inventor

Atholl Murray has been a farmer for most of his life. He has also been something of an entrepreneur and serial inventor. One of his other inventions is a self vacuuming aluminised sack that allows poor farmers in developing countries to store their grain for longer periods of time. He now lives in Cherrybrook in the north west of Sydney. In 1997 he stepped down from his executive position in Irrigation Water Technologies (IWT). He now has an impressive 87 birthdays behind him.

David is a horticulturalist, who used to own one of the first indoor plant hire businesses, until he sold that to become a teacher at Ryde Agricultural College. He is now the CEO at IWT. He’s also a keen long distance kayaker, regularly taking part in races that cover 111km overnight.

David and Atholl invented the KISSS technology together, though as only one name could go on the patent, they agreed it would be Atholl. Atholl is the Chairman of the Grain Security Foundation that holds the patent. IWT holds the worldwide exclusive licence of the patent for the life of the patent.

Contact

Online Discussion

Green roof technologies offer an economic, sustainable and aesthetically pleasing option that could play a significant role in addressing the issue of climate change.

The KISSS Ebb and Flow Mat represents a leap forward in green roof technology. The mat is an integrated extensive green roof system that provides not only irrigation, but drainage and root protection. It is an ‘active’ drainage system that intelligently manages the moisture level of green roof soils. The mat is lightweight, flexible and low cost and can be retro-fit to buildings with a restrictive weight allowance or budget.

David and Atholl, have been on The New Inventors before with their KISSS Capillary Irrigation Sub-Surface System, a sub surface irrigation system for potable or treated greywater that combines existing drip lines with a new form of geotextile covering, to increase water efficiency and overall irrigation performance.

REF: www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s1340145.htm

More recently David came up with the Ebb and Flow Mat, originally envisaged for use as a nursery irrigation system. He then came up with the concept of using the mat on green roofs. This was inspired by the climate change information that is now abundant in the media.

David hopes that the invention will take off with enough force that the company can use some of the profits to help developing countries install green roof technology.

The KISSS Ebb and Flow Mat is an ‘active’ drainage system that intelligently manages the moisture level of green roof soils and is designed for commercial and domestic roof tops. This invention is under the same patent as the KISSS invention featured in the 2005 series of The New Inventors. The patent covers a number of variations and where the original KISSS capillary system was sub-surface this one uses ‘Ebb and Flow’ technology.

The innovation is in the three layer construction. The system uses and ‘ebb and flow’ action whereby water is taken up from below by media contact, followed by rapid drainage. This form of irrigation allows fine control of water flow and drainage and produces an even water uptake. Drip tapes deliver water to the sides and middle of the specially designed three layer system. This water is then evenly distributed by mass flow and capillary action throughout the system using the mat’s central layer of non-woven geotextile.

In a green roof scenario, the Ebb and Flow Mat can either allow the water to drain away via the usual storm water avenues available on the roof, or used in conjunction with a sump and a holding tank (with a float valve). This way potable water run off can be redirected back to the holding tank, thereby recycling every last drop.

Required nutrients for plants can be liquid injected through the system on a three monthly basis or by using nutrient tablets.

Quote of the Week

"I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones." - musical innovator John Cage